Psychosocial stress and cannabinoid drugs affect acetylation of α-tubulin (K40) and gene expression in the prefrontal cortex of adult mice

PLoS One. 2022 Sep 21;17(9):e0274352. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274352. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

The dynamics of neuronal microtubules are essential for brain plasticity. Vesicular transport and synaptic transmission, additionally, requires acetylation of α-tubulin, and aberrant tubulin acetylation and neurobiological deficits are associated. Prolonged exposure to a stressor or consumption of drugs of abuse, like marihuana, lead to neurological changes and psychotic disorders. Here, we studied the effect of psychosocial stress and the administration of cannabinoid receptor type 1 drugs on α-tubulin acetylation in different brain regions of mice. We found significantly decreased tubulin acetylation in the prefrontal cortex in stressed mice. The impact of cannabinoid drugs on stress-induced microtubule disturbance was investigated by administration of the cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN55,212-2 and/or antagonist rimonabant. In both, control and stressed mice, the administration of WIN55,212-2 slightly increased the tubulin acetylation in the prefrontal cortex whereas administration of rimonabant acted antagonistically indicating a cannabinoid receptor type 1 mediated effect. The analysis of gene expression in the prefrontal cortex showed a consistent expression of ApoE attributable to either psychosocial stress or administration of the cannabinoid agonist. Additionally, ApoE expression inversely correlated with acetylated tubulin levels when comparing controls and stressed mice treated with WIN55,212-2 whereas rimonabant treatment showed the opposite.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Animals
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists / metabolism
  • Cannabinoids* / metabolism
  • Cannabinoids* / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression
  • Mice
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / metabolism
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid / metabolism
  • Rimonabant / pharmacology
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Tubulin* / metabolism

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists
  • Cannabinoids
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid
  • Tubulin
  • Rimonabant

Grants and funding

The research was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [Grant CNMPB C1-6]. Dr. Tomas-Roig was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Rückkehrstipendium [Grant TO 977/2-1]. We acknowledge support from the Open Access Publication Funds of the Göttingen University.